Drill sharpening device: simple homemade devices
Drill sharpening device: simple and affordable homemade devices
To keep the tool in good condition is a matter of honor for any professional and home craftsman. For cutting types, the ideal functionality of the edge is of paramount importance. A device for sharpening drills allows you to keep it in the right condition. It can be purchased ready-made or made by yourself. About how to do this and what you need to know for this – in the materials of this article.
Tools for sharpening drills are needed to maintain the tool in proper condition
The main types of factory grinding machines for drills
Any tool used in the work requires technical support. This is the replacement of exhausted parts, consumables, preventive actions, restoration of the functional usefulness of the elements. The nozzles used for drilling and cutting need sharpening, that is, their cutting part needs to be updated.
Aggregates for sharpening drills and other tools come in different types
Tools for sharpening drills can be divided into two types:
- with the ability to adjust parameters (angle, diameter);
- with established and fixed dimensional indicators.
The first ones are characterized by the strength of the body manufacturing material, which is made of metal, a stationary installation (the machine is fixed to the surface of the workbench with bolts) and a wide functionality: cutting edges of drills of various diameters can be restored on it. Machines of the second type often have a plastic case, a small grinding wheel and a conductor with holes corresponding to a certain size of drills.
The industry produces a huge variety of grinding machines. It should be noted that the specifics of the designs of these devices are quite understandable to skilled people. That is why many people prefer to use homemade devices for sharpening drills. There are several advantages of this approach:
- cost savings;
- application of unclaimed elements;
- the possibility of realizing personal abilities and acquiring additional experience;
- creating a device for specific purposes and tasks.
The most convenient are devices with adjustable diameter and angle parameters
It is about the manufacture of devices for sharpening with their own hands and their application that will be discussed in this article.
Tips for making tools for sharpening drills with your own hands
It is worth noting that drills used for working on wood, plastic, drywall and other materials with a relatively low density (with the exception of hardwoods: oak, hornbeam, white acacia, etc.) rarely need sharpening. A similar metal tool behaves quite differently. Here, the restoration of the cutting edge may be required frequently, depending on the intensity of work and the characteristics of the material being processed.
Oddly enough, but more often it is professionals who prefer to use their own devices. Sharpening a metal drill with your own hands requires certain professional skills:
- a developed eye;
- knowledge of the features of electrical devices;
- understanding the specifics of metalworking of specific products.
Manual processing is ineffective even with a high level of professionalism already because it takes a lot of time. The homemade device must be mechanized. For its manufacture, it is necessary to make certain calculations, select an electric motor and additionally manufacture other structural elements that meet technical requirements.
By making devices with your own hands, you can create exactly what is needed in the work
In order to eventually get a device with the desired functionality, you should first perform a drawing. There are quite a lot of devices for sharpening drills today. If there are difficulties in terms of design, you can turn to the Internet, where many schemes of homemade grinding machines are offered.
Useful advice! The drawing of the future grinding device must contain the dimensions of all structural elements, including fasteners.
The specifics of sharpening drills with a different shape of the cutting part
The first sign indicating that the drill needs sharpening is a characteristic creak at the beginning of its work. It is impossible to neglect this indicator, because it can have further negative consequences:
- the edge of the drill will begin to crumble;
- the engine will experience overload;
- burrs will appear on the treated surface.
First of all, the method of sharpening will depend on the shape of the cutting part of the drill
The question of how to properly sharpen the drill will be considered on the example of the spiral version. The method of sharpening depends on the shape that needs to be given to the cutting part. The type of sharpening can be as follows:
- single – plane;
- two – plane;
- cylindrical;
- conical.
During single-plane sharpening, the drill is simply attached parallel to the abrasive wheel, does not move. In this simple way, you can sharpen drills up to 3 mm in size. Two-plane sharpening is performed in a similar way.
Conical sharpening is somewhat more difficult. The drill should be taken with two hands: left – closer to the conical working part, right – by the shank. It is necessary to press the tool against the end part of the grinding wheel with the cutting edge and the back plane. The drill bit should be swung with the right hand. Cylindrical sharpening is also performed in a similar way.
Sharpening of a conical-shaped drill is carried out from the end side of the grinding wheel
Useful advice! If the actions are carried out for the first time, before sharpening drills suitable for use, it is better to do a test treatment on a spent tool.
How to sharpen the drill correctly: possible errors and their warning
Despite the large amount of information on how to sharpen drills on metal, even with sufficient theoretical and sometimes practical knowledge, many make a number of mistakes. It is not difficult to predict the consequences: when turning, the cutting edge crumbles, the tool overheats, the cut has dimensional errors, roughness and irregularities on the treated surfaces are possible.
Typical errors when sharpening drills include the following deviations from the norm:
Mistakes when sharpening drills are made not only by beginners, but sometimes even by professionals
The errors listed above are most of all the result of an improperly designed grinding device. And here again it is worth returning to the drawings. The device for sharpening drills with your own hands should have a functional holder of the sharpening angle. Its application will ensure the correct processing of cutting surfaces.
Indicators of the magnitude of the angles of sharpening drills on metal
Regardless of which device the sharpening is performed on, the process must be controlled. In this regard, the most advanced machines with electronic control. The possibility of adjustment on electromechanical devices also allows for high-quality processing.
A very important indicator is the value of the sharpening angle. It is not the same for different materials, since the latter differ in the level of density and the specifics of the structure.
A table containing information about the correct drill sharpening angles:
| Processed material | Sharpening angle |
| Steel, cast iron, hard-alloy bronze | 115-120° |
| Soft bronze, brass alloys | 125-135° |
| Copper red | 125° |
| Aluminum and soft alloys based on it | 135° |
| Granite, ceramics | 135° |
| Wood of any species | 135° |
| Magnesium and its alloys | 85° |
| Silumin | 90-100° |
| Plastic, textolite | 90-100° |
It is convenient to control the correct sharpening of drills using templates.
Useful advice! When buying or making a device for sharpening drills with your own hands, you should immediately take care of the availability of sample templates. Processing of cutting surfaces with a focus on visual memory will most likely not bring the desired results.
Stand for sharpening drills: design features
Racks, like other devices for sharpening drilling tools, can be of industrial or household type. Industrial ones are characterized by large sizes, advanced functionality that allows you to process drills in various ways. Household ones are much more compact, but have fewer options.
Racks for sharpening drills can be both industrial and domestic
Usually the racks come complete with grinding machines. They are attached to the frame with bolts and nuts. The drill bit to be sharpened is fixed in the clamping device of the rack.
The main elements of the design are:
- footing;
- the rod to which the drill bit is attached directly by means of mobile and stationary clamping devices;
- emphasis;
- carriage and feed adjustment screw;
- clamping screws and nuts.
By analogy with the factory version of the racks, craftsmen are trying to make a similar device for sharpening drills with their own hands. In such cases, special attention should be paid to the two components of the structure and their functioning:
- the position of the drills is set by means of an axis and an adjustment screw;
- the required angle is created by the corresponding inclined position of the base.
Racks are sold independently or complete with grinding machines
The most difficult point in self-assembly of the device is to ensure the accuracy of processing. In manufactured racks, these functions are performed by a special scale, which is part of the design. In homemade designs, the most reliable will be the use of templates.
Homemade device for sharpening drills from a nut
One of the simplest and most affordable devices for sharpening drills is a device made of nuts. The algorithm of its manufacture can be as follows:
Useful advice! In the manufacture of a device for sharpening drills from nuts, the design should not be simplified, replacing the clamping bolt by simply fixing it with a hand. This will significantly complicate the processing process.
The device for sharpening can be made of two nuts and a bolt
The inserted and clamped drill bit is brought to the emery and ground. The nuts hold the desired angle and do not allow you to grind off more than necessary.
There are many skeptical views on the functioning of this device. First of all, there are concerns that the metal of the nut from touching the abrasive wheel will also undergo grinding, and quite intensively, since it is soft. As a result, the device will not serve for a long time.
Related article:
Knife sharpening tools: a simple and quick way to make the blade sharp
The main types and characteristics of devices. What materials are used to make sharpeners. How to sharpen different knives correctly.
Drill attachment for sharpening drills: basic elements
Almost all drill attachments offered on the market for turning drills have the same design. This is a plastic case, where a sharpening element of a certain shape is placed, which allows processing the cutting surface of the tool at the desired angle. The device rotates with a drill. The connection to the shaft is carried out by a special coupling.
The housing cover has holes into which drills of appropriate diameters are inserted. The holes are made so that the cutting edge comes into contact with the emery wheel only in the necessary places. The absence of such a conductor cap significantly complicates the sharpening process, since the drill has to be held manually.
The device for a drill for sharpening is a plastic nozzle in which a sharpening element and a drill bit are placed
There are quite a lot of demo videos on the Internet “Devices for sharpening drills”. Before using the purchased nozzle, you should refer to the video with instructions, this will help avoid mistakes.
By analogy with factory devices, homemade devices are most often performed:
- the case is made of metal;
- the drill chuck and the emery wheel are connected by a mounting ring;
- the emery element is given the shape of a cone, which is usually created on a lathe;
- the lid with holes of different diameters can be made of wood, metal, polymer with additives.
The most difficult stage when performing the drill head with your own hands is to create a lid.
The device for the grinder: pros and cons of different options
As an electric tool, which is successfully adapted to perform drill sharpening, is a grinder. There are a lot of application possibilities. There are two main ways:
- the drill holder is a separate structure;
- the guides and mounting are fixed directly to the grinder.
The device on the grinder has both advantages and disadvantages
As for the first option, it should be noted a large number of such devices for sharpening drills with their own hands. Videos on the Internet containing instructions demonstrate in detail and in an accessible way the process of their manufacture.
The second method is less common. That is why it is worth telling a little more about it. The device is fixed to the casing of the power tool. The guide is made of a metal corner, the position of the trailing edge is fixed manually. The device as a whole is compact, consisting of quite affordable components.
Like many homemade devices, this device has also been seriously criticized. A labor-intensive manufacturing method is noted. There are concerns that without the lack of speed control, the drill will overheat during processing. The most acute remarks relate to the destructive effect of sharpening on the sides of the circle. Damage to the reinforcing layer may cause the disc to crumble into separate pieces.
Important!Turning a working grinder to the user is strictly prohibited by safety regulations.
A simple device for sharpening drills from door hinges
A video clip demonstrating the manufacture of a device for sharpening drills from a door hinge with their own hands has gained particular popularity. Although the process itself and the result are considered technically imperfect by many, the idea deserves attention:
The design is complemented by a stud, which is fixed by welding, a nut and a washer. The nut and washer will allow you to rigidly install the drill for grinding.
The main claims to this rather simple device for sharpening drills with your own hands are as follows:
The device for sharpening door hinges is one of the easiest to make with your own hands
This manufacturing method may well be improved, taking into account technical comments. The device made of improvised materials can acquire more advanced functionality.
Homemade device for sharpening spiral type drills
As a simple device for sharpening spiral type drills, you can use a sleeve. Its internal dimensions must correspond to the diameter of the tool.
Important! The drill bit installed in the sleeve should not hang out even to a small extent. Deviation from the required angle by 1 ° will already lead to poor-quality sharpening.
It is better to immediately prepare various copper or aluminum tubes, the diameters of which will correspond to the sizes of drills available in the home workshop. The guides for turning the tool can be made much easier – from a wooden bar. Such a device was used in the last century. With some degree of improvement, it can still be used today. The holes in the wood must be made at a certain angle, allowing the drill installed in them to take the position necessary for proper sharpening.
When sharpening a spiral type drill, it is important to clearly adhere to the desired angle
A homemade device for sharpening drills with your own hands must have an assistant:
- it ensures the correct position of the drill bit in relation to the grinding wheel;
- serves as a stop for the tool being processed.
When mounting a sharpening device, sufficient attention should be paid to the choice of a grinding wheel. Most drills are made of high-speed steel. As an abrasive, silicon carbide circles (marked 64C) with a grain size of 8H-16H are most suitable. Such grindstones can get very hot, so the contact of the sharpener and the drill should not be long.
Drill sharpening device: safety of use
Working with any power tool requires strict compliance with certain rules for safe use. When making homemade devices for sharpening drills, many neglect to provide structures with protective elements. This is completely unacceptable, since the degree of injury during the use of these devices can be significant.
The main safety requirements should include:
When sharpening drills, it is necessary to observe safety precautions
There are quite a lot of ideas on the Internet for making devices for sharpening drills with your own hands. It is not always necessary to make exact copies of devices. It is necessary to understand the basic principle of the mechanism and take into account possible problems and consequences of technical inaccuracies. Any device can be improved. Having ready-made developments in front of you, it is much easier to do this.
